Will we ever learn /Stranger Things\

~chapter 11~

Jane was on her way to the town's restaurant, her hands were shaking. She had already called in everyone, letting them know where to meet up. Jane had her hair down to her upper back, two stripes that usually framed her face clipped together at the back, the usual bangs she wore since living with Joyce Byers slightly curled at the ends. She was wearing a light pink blause and light denim jeans with wide legs, to top it off, she for once wore high heels in white. For the acessories, Jane wore a simple pearl earings with matching necklace and bracelet, with a small beige hand bag hanging losely over her shoulder, supporting the light grey coat she took in case she'd be cold.

Jane walked into the restaurant, walking to the reception table, giving the lady at register a smile before speaking.

"Hello, I have a reservation to the name Jane Hopper." Jane said with a smile, the lady looked into her files before looking back up at Jane with a smile.

"Follow me, please." the lady said, getting up and led Jane to the back of the restaurant, into the private booths. Jane noticed a shoulder lenght ginger hair, before the person who the hair belonged to turned their way. The register lady said her goodbye and left, the redhead smiled widely at Jane.

"El, long time no see. You look amazing!" the woman spoke. She had a simple white shirt that looked too big on her, but she managed to make it look good by adding a wide belt to her waist. The woman also had dark blue skinny jeans and vans in bright red.

"You too, Max." Jane smiled, rushing to hug her friend.

"Lucas will be here soon, he just left for the bathroom. I mean, we spent the whole night on a plane." Max said with a laugh, Jane smiled. The two of them took a seat next to each other.

"So, how have you been? Anything new?" Jane asked and Max started talking, about her wedding, her kid and all that's been going on with her in California. Soon Lucas, Max's husband, rejoined the two, he wasn't wearing anything special, just a simple white shirt tugged in a pair of buisness pants in dark grey color, with converse in dark blue. The only thing changing about him since Jane saw him last, except for getting older, was a moustache Lucas grew, along with a short beard. He was quick to join in the conversation after sharing a short hug with Jane.

Soon, the three were acompanied by Dustin, his normally longer curly hair was cut in an undercut and what was left had most likely been straighten manually, unless Dustin's hair just so happened to get straight for no reason. He was wearing a plain, light blue T-shirt with wide jeans in dark blue and a brand off sneakers to go with it, a brown jacket tied around his waist. And on top a squared black glasses being simply placed on his nose.

"Hey guys, long time no see." Dustin smiled widely, Lucas got up, smiling as well as he walked over to his friend, giving him a hug.

"It's been nearly too long. What happened to those curls?" Lucas asked with a smile.

"Suzie didn't like them, and I thought I might use a change. Suzie said they made me look like a teenager still." Dustin explained as Lucas moved off the way to let his wife hug Dustin as well.

"You look great." Max smiled, pulling away from the hug and stepping aside to let Jane hug Dustin as well.

"So glad you all could make it." Jane smiled as they all moved towards the table, sitting down. Max in her place as before with Jane on her right and Lucas on her left, Dustin taking a seat on Lucas' left.

Not much later, Steve Harrington and Robin Buckley made their way through the door. Steve wearing a regular black suit pants with matching shoes, white shirt and a lose tie, a suit jacket(?) hanging from his arm. Robin wore a simple pants with T-shirt and a zipper hoodie in black, hanging losely over her shoulders, her hair in a half buzzed cut, while the other half didn't reach even her neck and it seemed like each hair stripe had a different size (like Vi from Arcane), she had her usual red sneakers on and bags under her eyes, while her left eyebrow was pierced.

"Steve, hey." Dustin got up, rushing towards the two, hugging Steve tightly. Steve just let out a quiet squeal.

"This better be important, I was meant to have a date today." Steve sighed, Robin laughed.

"I love the new hair." Max stated from her seat, shooting Robin a smile.

"Thanks, me too." Robin smiled, going to sit next to Jane who was looking at Robin in awe.

"You look.. different." Jane finally let out, Robin laughed.

"Yeah, well I got a haircut and a couple piercings, and a tattoo." Robin said, rolling her hoodie sleeve lower to reveal a tattoo of a JIF peanut butter jar on her shoulder.

"Peanut butter?" Max said with a raised eyebrow, looking at Robin judgingly.

"It has a meaning behind it that I don't wanna share." Robin smiled, simply.

"Only the chosen ones know, anyways what are we here for anyway?" Steve said, quickly changing the subject.

"We're still waiting for the rest." Jane explained, looking over to the door.

"Who else is coming? Will? Jonathan?" Steve asked, sitting next to Robin leaving Dustin in a frown.

"Yeah, and Nancy with Mike should come as well." Jane explained, recieving looks from everyone.

"You and Mike still talk?" Dustin asked, Jane shook her head, still looking at the door.

"No, I told Nancy to tell him to meet here. As much as I don't want to talk to him, he was still part of that when it happened first, so he should know as well." Jane sighed, finally spotting the grey sweater her brother put on the very morning as he shot a wave towards the group, everyone getting up to go greet him.

"Wow, Byers, you look good." Lucas commented, hugging Will.

"Good, just good? Man, you're a whole darn snack." Robin commented, hugging Will as well.

"What happened, dude?" Dustin joked, also hugging Will.

"Finally got rid of the bowlcut, I see. Hey Will." Max smiled, giving Will a hug as well.

"Hey Byers." Steve said, giving Will's shoulder a pat.

"Hi guys, it's nice to see you all again." Will said with a smile as his cheeks turned slightly pink at the sudden wave of compliments, Will was never the one to know how to handle a compliment.

The group all sat down, catching up on what was new with each and every one of them. Robin changed seats with Dustin while Will took a seat between Jane and Steve, and Dustin sitting on the other side of Steve. Soon the group could hear arguing from the door, seeing Nancy Wheeler, her brother Mike, and Will's brother Jonathan Byers. Jonathan and Nancy seemed to be in a heated argument, Mike looked down with the two and just now Jane noticed that Mike was holding hands with a little brunette girl, Cindy Wheeler, Nancy's daughter. Cindy's eyes lit up as she saw Jane and Will and she quickly ran to them.

"Hi Mr. Detective, hi Mrs. Doctor." Cindy said, going for a hug from Jane.

"You can just call me auntie El." Jane said, picking the small girl up as the rest of the table was looking at Cindy in confusion.

"What's the situation here?" Steve was the one to ask, meaning his question to everyone, however Jonathan took a hold of the situation.

"Apparently I have a daughter that her mother," Jonathan glared at Nancy, "forgot to mention to me, so I find out after six years I have a kid." Jonathan said, taking a seat next to Dustin, letting out angry sigh. "And you two knew about this and told me nothing." Jonathan turned to his siblings, Will looked down at the table.

"First off, we knew it was Nancy's daughter, no one ever mentioned you. And secondly, this is something we have no right to tell." Jane said, giving Jonathan a glare. Nancy let out a sigh, going to sit next to Robin, greeting her. Mike took the last free seat, between Jonathan and Nancy. Cindy looked over at everyone in confusion.

"Besides, we have more important things to discuss." Jane said, placing Cindy back down on the floor from where Will had picked her up and sat her on his lap, Cindy still looking around in confusion before Robin waved at her and Cindy's face lit up before she waved back.